Updated: House hearing goes on with Rove's chair empty

WASHINGTON -- Former White House adviser Karl Rove failed to respond to a congressional subpoena today to answer allegations that he pressured prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against former Gov. Don Siegelman.

FileFormer White House political adviser Karl Rove did not testify before a House committee today.

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., chairwoman of the judiciary subcommittee, ruled that Rove's claims of immunity under executive privilege are invalid.

The committee sustained the ruling on a 7-1 vote. All Democrats voted yes; one Republican voted no.

The hearing continued with an empty witness chair.

No decision was made on the possibility of finding Rove in contempt.

The committee is investigating allegations of political interference in prosecutions, including the case of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.

"Neither Mr. Rove's lawyer nor the White House has cited a single court decision to support the immunity claim as to former White House officials," Sanchez said.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, called the hearing a "partisan stunt." He was the only GOP member of the subcommittee to attend and was the lone vote against the ruling.

He read an earlier statement from the Montgomery-based prosecutor on Siegelman's case, Louis Franklin, denying any partisan interference in his decision to prosecute the former governor.

Some in the audience yelled in protest that the Democrats were not more aggressive in enforcing their subpoena.